Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom Dec 13-19

Here are some posts around the web that I particularly enjoyed this week:

A museum exhibit called, Greece of Origins: between dream and archaeology, highlights how the 19^th C French imagination interpreted the then new discoveries of pre-Classical Greek societies at Troy, Mycenae, Crete and the Cyclades. Alas it’s in France at the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale and I can’t get there to see this, but it includes gorgeous reproductions of the frescoes by Emile Gilléron. Click here

In Achilles’ neighborhood of Thessaly, Greece, a late Bronze Age tomb has been uncovered during highway construction. 19 graves with revealing tomb goods intact and 2 large oblong buildings that from the artifacts of daily life must be part of a settlement next to the cemetery. Great photos of remains of the buildings and the objects. Click here

Looking for fresh ways (or rather historical ways) to insult someone? Try Tinney Heath’s post on medieval insults. These got you in trouble with the law back in their day, so watch out!  Click here 

Short intros to a number of excellent historical authors—each talking about the first book in their series. If you’re looking for good reads that you can get hooked on, this is the post for you. Featured authors: Libi Astaire, Julian Stockwin, Helen Hollick, Stephanie Dray, Catherine M Wilson, Nancy Bilyeau, Anna Belfrage, Linda Root, Sandra Schwab, Derek Birks, Antoine Vanner, Lisa J Yarde, Alison Morton. Click here

I recently read All the Light We Cannot See. Best book I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t put together a review, but here’s a beautifully written one by Kate of For Winter Nights Blog. Click here

The Historical Cooking Project. I just found this website & a stupendous article about recreating bread according to Egyptian hieroglyphs & archaeological finds. If you are at all interested in bread making or history this is for you! I love finding these interesting nooks on the web. Click here

8,000 yr old olive oil found & tested in Israeli archaeological dig in Galilee. Oldest evidence of olive oil production probably anywhere but certainly in Israel. More wonderful science giving us a window into the past. It’s open to question whether the olives were wild or somewhere toward domesticated at this stage of the game. I love finding olive presses in digs–very distinctive looking. But this Israeli find is way, way earlier than any of those that I’ve seen! This photo I’ve included is from a Bronze Age site in Turkey called Tilmen. I think it’s an olive press. If anyone decides differently, do let me know. Click here